Recent Storm Damage Posts

Hurricane Preparedness

With Hurricane Florence growing and making its way towards the shore, it is important to start preparing for the possibility of the storm. Hurricanes are usually accompanied by powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and coastal and inland flooding, which means that even though we are inland from the ocean, we still need to be prepared.

How You Can Start Preparing Now:

Know Our Area's Risk of Hurricanes:

While the Roanoke area is not at a high risk for hurricanes, we still are susceptible to the storms that result from them. Heavy rainfall and high winds are both something our area needs to be aware and cautious of.

Stock Up On The Necessities

It is not uncommon for these larger storms to lead to power outages. Make sure you are stocked up on water, food, batteries for flashlights, and anything else you may need to feel more comfortable during a power outage. Keeping your cellphones fully charged as the storm nears is also smart; being able to contact family, friends, and first responders is always important!

Stay Informed

Keep an eye on our local news and weather alerts, for information regardings the storm. Staying alert for flash flood warnings and strong wind advisories can help keep you and your family safe throughout the storm.

Have a Backup Plan

If your home is in an area prone to flash flooding, have a backup plan! Call relatives and friends and make a plan to visit a home in a safer location during the storm!

If you find your home has been affected by damage as a result of the storm, call SERVPRO of Roanoke at 540-389-5818, and we will make it, "Like it never even happened."

Are You Prepared if Flooding Occurs?

In the event of a flood, do you know your evacuation routes? How about a place to stay if you must evacuate? Do you have pets and can they stay with you? These are all questions we ask in the moment of crisis when we realize we must evacuate due to flooding.

The safest way to survive a flood is to evacuate the area if you are advised to leave. To ensure that you will be able to act quickly, you need to plan ahead.

Know your community's local flood evacuation plan and identify several escape routes for your location if roads are blocked.

If you will evacuate by car, keep your car fueled and in good condition when there is a flood risk. Kep emergency supplies and a change of clothes in your car.

If you need to relocate for an extended period of time, identify a place away from home now where you could go if you had to leave. Consider family or friends who live outside of the local area.

If you expect to go to a shelter after evacuating, download the American Red Cross Shelter Finder app. This app displays open American Red Cross shelters and provides the capacity and current population of each shelter.

Planning ahead will take some of the stress off in the event of an emergency evacuation. And remember - TURN AROUND DON"T DROWN - never drive through flood waters.

Storm Response

SERVPRO of Roanoke specialized in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resouces to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit the Roanoke Valley or surrounding area's, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 Franchises around the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today at 540-389-5818 for 24/7 Emergency Service!

How to Stay Safe During a Thunder and Lighting Storm

We are no stranger to thunder and lightning storms here in Virginia, but the harsh danger that lurks behind them is unknown to many of us.

Local U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 22,600 fires per year that were started by lightning (www.iii.org)

These fires can cause a lot of damage and can put the lives of your family in danger.

The use of lightning rods as well as the accompanying protection system are designed to protect a home or building from a direct strike of lightning, as well as a lightning-initiated fire. These systems work by intercepting the lightning strike and providing it with a conductive path for the harmful electrical discharge to flow through directly into the ground. For more information on lightning rods and lightning protection systems, you can visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-rods .

If your home is not equipped with a lightning-protection system, here are tips on how you can stay safe inside your home throughout a lightning storm provided by weather.gov.

Stick to your cellular and cordless phones. Do not use any phones that are connected by a cord!

Do not touch electrical equipment throughout the storm. This can include computers, TVs, or cords, however, you CAN use remote controls safely.

Avoid plumbing as much as possible. Do not wash your hands, take a shower, or wash your dishes throughout the storm

Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls

Protect your pets! Dog houses are not a safe shelter during there storms, and dogs that are chained to trees or on a metal runner are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes

Protect your property! Lightning will generate electric surges that can damage electronic equipment even from some distance from the actual strike. Typical surge protectors will not protect your equipment from a strike of lightning. Do not unplug equipment during a thunderstorm, for there is a risk you could be struck!

Lightning Facts You Should Know

In honor of lightning awareness week, weather.gov has provided these facts about lightning that you might not be aware of!

Did You Know:

All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. However, people can remain safe, as long as they follow some simple guidelines when thunderstorms are in the forecast.

Lightning will often strike outside the area of heavy rain and may strike as far as 10 miles from any rainfall. A lot of the lightning deaths that occur happen either before the storm before any rain has arrived, or after the storm has appeared to have passed and the rain has ended.

If you can hear the thunder, you are in danger. Do not be fooled by the clear blue skies. If you can hear the thunder, that means that lightning is close enough to pose as an immediate threat.

Lightning leaves many of its victims with permanent disabilities. While only about 10% of lightning victims die, many of the survivors are left with intense pain, neurological disabilities, depressions, and other health problems that stick with them for the rest of their lives.

Storm Damage?

SERVPRO of Roanoke specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost. Our teams are trained and qualified to assist you in any disaster.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit the Roanoke Valley we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call SERVPRO of Roanoke

What to look for after a Hail Storm

Do you have hail damage? It is not that easy a question to answer. If your building has asphalt shingles or a metal roof, you may see dents. But, on a built-up (tar & gravel) roof, you might see few to no visible signs of damage. When do you need professional help? Three Helpful Indicators:

Hail comes in many sizes and densities, so it can be difficult to know when you actually need to be concerned about damage. Whether you’re staring at pea-sized hail on the ground or golf-ball size hail, here are some signs that indicate it would be a good idea to at least talk to a professional:

Damaged vehicles—If the roofs of nearby cars were dented, then there’s a good chance your building also sustained hail damage.

Damaged siding, downspouts or windows—If you are unable to safely inspect your roof, hail damage to other parts of your building, such as dented downspouts or siding, can be a good indicator you may need to take action.

Work on neighboring properties—If a neighboring building sustained hail damage and is being repaired, it’s a sign you should more closely inspect your roof and building.

Storm Damage

SERVPRO of Roanoke specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost. Our teams are trained and qualified to assist you in any disaster.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit the Roanoke Valley, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today SERVPRO of Roanoke 540-389-5818

When Storms or Floods hit the Roanoke or New River Valley SERVPRO is ready!

SERVPRO of Roanoke, Montgomery & Pulaski Counties specialize in Storm or Flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to pre-storm condition, "Like it never even happened".

FASTER RESPONSE

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A faster response lessens the damage, limits further damage and reduces the restoration cost.

RESOURCES TO HANDLE FLOODS & STORMS

When storms hit our area we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1650 franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

If you are faced with storm or flood damage, call us today!

SERVPRO of Roanoke, Montgomery & Pulaski Co. 540-389-5818

FASTER TO ANY SIZE DISASTER!

Virginia Tornado Awareness

Would you be prepared, or even know where to start if a tornado touched down today?

Tornados are one of nature's most violent storms. They can cause large amounts of damage in just moments, giving you only seconds to respond. Your response could help keep you and those around you safe.

If you answered no to the above question, read here for more information on how to prepare and stay safe during a tornado.